Basketball shooting aid

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are embodiments of basketball shooting aids. In some embodiments, a basketball shooting aid includes a glove portion and at least one stiffener to at least partially restrain the thumb of a user. In some embodiments, a basketball shooting aid can include plural stiffeners, such as two stiffeners, with one positioned on either side of the user&#39;s thumb. In some embodiments, a basketball shooting aid includes a stiffener and at least one strap for securing the stiffener to a user&#39;s hand. In some embodiments, a basketball shooting aid can help a basketball player to practice his or her shot.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/648,573, which was filed on May 17, 2012.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to athletic training equipment and, more particularly, to an aid for use in shooting a basketball.

BACKGROUND

One method of shooting a basketball involves the use of both hands of a basketball player. Both hands can be used to raise the basketball to a shooting position, in which the ball is held in a generally elevated position and one hand, the shooting hand, supports the ball while the other hand, the non-shooting stabilizing hand, is used to ensure the ball rests in a stable position on the shooting hand. Once the ball has been raised to the shooting position, the player can use the shooting hand to shoot the ball toward a target while using the stabilizing hand to support the ball.

In some cases, a player can unintentionally use their stabilizing hand, and in particular, the thumb of their stabilizing hand, to help shoot the ball, rather than merely support or stabilize the ball. Though this often occurs inadvertently and due to a player's natural tendencies, it can reduce the accuracy of a shot because it requires the coordination of the forces exerted by both hands, which can be difficult. Accordingly, methods and devices of preventing a basketball player from imparting undesirable forces and rotations to a basketball while shooting, as well as methods and devices of teaching a player to shoot a basketball without doing so are desirable.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are embodiments of basketball shooting aids. In some embodiments, a basketball shooting aid comprises a glove comprising a thumb receiving portion, an index finger receiving portion, and a glove body portion with a palm section that at least partially overlays the palm of a user of the glove when the glove is worn. The shooting aid can also include a stiffener mounted to the glove and comprising a stiffener body portion, the stiffener body portion being positioned to overlay at least a portion of the palm section of the glove, the stiffener comprising a first projecting portion extending outwardly from the stiffener body portion and extending along at least a portion of the thumb receiving portion of the glove and a second projecting portion extending outwardly from the stiffener body portion and extending toward the index finger receiving portion of the glove.

In some embodiments, the thumb receiving portion and the index finger receiving portion of the glove each comprise a respective sleeve with at least the sleeve of the index finger receiving portion being open so as to not cover a distal portion of an index finger of a user wearing the glove. In some embodiments, the sleeve of the thumb receiving portion comprises a distal end portion that is open to expose a thumb of a user wearing the glove. In some embodiments, the glove comprises four finger receiving sleeves with respective distal ends that are open, with one of said finger receiving sleeves comprising the index finger receiving portion of the glove. In some embodiments, the stiffener comprises a polymeric material having a stiffness between about 2,000 MPa and about 3,000 MPa when tested in accordance with ASTM D790, and the glove comprises a fabric material.

In some embodiments, the index finger receiving portion of the glove comprises a proximal interphalangeal joint portion and the second projecting portion of the stiffener extends along the index finger receiving portion of the glove to a location distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint portion of the index finger receiving portion. In some embodiments, the thumb receiving portion of the glove comprises a thumb interphalangeal joint portion and the first projecting portion of the stiffener extends along the thumb receiving portion of the glove to a location distal to the thumb interphalangeal joint portion of the thumb receiving portion. In some embodiments, the thumb and index finger receiving portions of the glove each comprise a respective sleeve, the sleeve of the thumb receiving portion extending outwardly from the body portion of the glove to a location beyond the interphalangeal joint of a thumb of a user and the sleeve of the index finger receiving portion extending outwardly from the body portion of the glove to a location beyond the proximal interphalangeal joint of an index finger of a user.

In some embodiments, the stiffener is stitched to the glove. In some embodiments, the stiffener is generally U-shaped with first and second legs and a central body portion from which the first and second legs project, the first leg comprising the first projecting portion and the second leg comprising the second projecting portion, and wherein the central body portion of the stiffener overlays the palm section of the glove.

An alternative basketball shooting aid can comprise a glove comprising a thumb receiving portion with a base and a glove body sized to wrap around both sides of the hand of a user. The shooting aid can also include a stiffener mounted to the glove, the stiffener comprising a body portion positioned along the base of the thumb receiving portion, the stiffener comprising a first projection extending at least partially along the thumb receiving portion.

The glove of the shooting aid can further comprise an index finger receiving portion and the stiffener can further comprise a second projection extending toward or along the index finger receiving portion of the glove. The shooting aid can also comprise first and second of said stiffeners positioned on opposite sides of the glove body from one another. The thumb receiving portion can comprise a sleeve having a distal end portion that is open to expose a thumb of a user wearing the glove.

Another alternative basketball shooting aid can comprise a glove comprising a thumb receiving portion, an index finger receiving portion, a middle finger receiving portion, a ring finger receiving portion, a little finger receiving portion, and a body portion which interconnects the thumb receiving portion, the index finger receiving portion, the middle finger receiving portion, the ring finger receiving portion, and the little finger receiving portion. The body portion includes a wrist receiving opening, a palm section that overlays the palm of a user's hand when the glove is worn, and a back section that overlays the back of a user's hand when the glove is worn.

In some embodiments, a first stiffener is desirably mounted to the palm section of the glove, the first stiffener comprising a body portion which overlays a portion of the palm section of the glove, a first extending portion extending along at least a portion of the thumb receiving portion of the glove, and a second extending portion extending toward or along the index finger receiving portion of the glove. A second stiffener can also be mounted to the back section of the glove, the second stiffener can be like or the mirror image of the first stiffener. The second stiffener can also be of a different shape than the first stiffener. The second stiffener can comprise a body portion which overlays a portion of the back section of the glove, a first extending portion extending along at least a portion of the thumb receiving portion of the glove, and a second extending portion extending toward the index finger receiving portion of the glove. Desirably the stiffeners are mounted to exterior surfaces of the glove, but they can alternatively be positioned at the interior of the glove or between glove components, such as in whole or in part between fabric layers of the glove.

The shooting aid can also include an adjustable strap mounted to the body portion of the glove, wherein the adjustable strap can be adjusted to modify a size of the wrist receiving opening of the body portion of the glove. The index finger receiving portion, the middle finger receiving portion, the ring finger receiving portion, and the little finger receiving portion of the glove can each comprise a respective sleeve which is open at its distal end so as to not cover a distal portion of a finger of a user wearing the glove. The thumb receiving portion of the glove can comprise a sleeve which is closed at its distal end so as to enclose a distal portion of a thumb of a user wearing the glove.

Another alternative basketball shooting aid can comprise a glove having a thumb receiving portion and an index finger receiving portion, the glove comprising a glove body interconnecting the thumb receiving portion and index finger receiving portion, wherein the glove body is sized to wrap around both sides of the hand of a user. The shooting aid can also include a stiffener mounted to the glove, the stiffener comprising a body portion which extends at least partially over the glove body, extends at least partially over the thumb receiving portion, and extends at least partially over a space between the thumb receiving portion and the index finger receiving portion. The shooting aid can include first and second of said stiffeners positioned on opposite sides of the glove body from one another, and one or both of the stiffeners can have a shape which is generally circular, or can have a shape which is generally pentagonal. The stiffeners can be of different shapes.

Another alternative shooting aid can comprise a stiffener having a thumb portion and a base portion coupled to and extending away from the thumb portion, wherein the base portion is configured to overlay at least a portion of the body of the hand of a user and the thumb portion is configured to extend at least partially along the thumb of a user. The shooting aid can also include a strap coupled to the base portion, wherein the strap is sized to wrap around the body of the hand of the user to secure the stiffener to the hand of the user. The thumb portion can be tubular and can have a central opening configured to receive the thumb of the user. The stiffener can include first and second of said base portions coupled to and extending away from the tubular thumb portion and away from the distal end portion of the user's thumb, wherein the first and second base portions are configured to overlay opposite sides of the body of the hand of the user. The strap can include a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the strap is coupled to the first base portion of the stiffener and the second end portion of the strap is coupled to the second base portion of the stiffener.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first major portion of one embodiment of a basketball shooting aid.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second major portion of the shooting aid of FIG. 1, the second major portion being opposite to the first major portion.

FIG. 3 shows a palm view of the shooting aid of FIGS. 1-2, worn on a user's right hand.

FIG. 4 shows a palm view of the shooting aid of FIGS. 1-3, worn on a user's left hand.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view through a portion of the shooting aid of FIGS. 1-4, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6A shows a first major portion of an alternative embodiment of a shooting aid.

FIG. 6B shows a second major portion of the shooting aid of FIG. 6A, opposed to the first major portion.

FIG. 7A shows a first major portion of another alternative embodiment of a shooting aid.

FIG. 7B shows a second major portion of the shooting aid of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A shows a first major portion of another alternative embodiment of a shooting aid.

FIG. 8B shows a second major portion of the shooting aid of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A shows a first major portion of another alternative embodiment of a shooting aid.

FIG. 9B shows a second major portion of the shooting aid of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A shows a first major portion of another alternative embodiment of a shooting aid.

FIG. 10B shows a second major portion of the shooting aid of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A shows a front view of another alternative embodiment of a shooting aid worn on a user's right hand, it being understood that the same shooting aid can be worn on the user's left hand with the stiffener positioned at the palm side of the user's left hand.

FIG. 11B shows a rear view of the shooting aid of FIG. 11A worn on a user's right hand.

FIG. 12A shows a first major portion of another alternative embodiment of a shooting aid.

FIG. 12B shows a second major portion of the shooting aid of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the shooting aid of FIGS. 12A-B, taken along either line 13-13 of FIG. 12A or line 13-13 of FIG. 12B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A basketball shooting aid can include a glove portion which can be worn on a user's hand, and at least one stiffener element which can restrain motion of the thumb of the user. As used herein, the term “glove” includes any covering for the hand of a user that covers the user's hand in whole or in part. A glove can have a first major portion and a second major portion. For example, when worn on a user's right hand, a glove's first major portion can overlay the palm of the user's right hand and the second major portion can overlay the back (the opisthenar area) of the user's right hand. When the same glove is worn on a user's left hand, the first major portion can overlay the opisthenar area of the user's left hand and the second major portion can overlay the palm of the user's left hand.

The first and second major portions in this example together form what is referred to herein as the “body” of a glove, which can be provided in various sizes, for example, to accommodate hands of various sizes, or to cover a desired portion of the surfaces of a user's hand. The body of a glove can thus cover what is referred to herein as a portion of the “body” of a user's hand—the portion of the hand that does not include the fingers.

A glove can have separate portions for receiving each of a user's five fingers, for example, sleeves through which the user's fingers can extend. A glove need not have any such separate portions. In various embodiments the glove can have more than zero but less than five such separate portions. That is, a glove in various embodiments described herein can be provided with any number of separate portions for receiving a user's fingers. In some cases, these separate portions can be open at their distal ends, thus exposing the tips of fingers extending through them, or these portions can be closed at their distal ends, thus enclosing the tips of fingers extending through them.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a basketball shooting aid 100 can include a glove portion 102, a first stiffener 104, and a second stiffener 106. The illustrated glove portion 102 has a thumb receiving portion 108, an index finger receiving portion 110, a middle finger receiving portion 112, a ring finger receiving portion 114, and a little finger receiving portion 116. The thumb receiving portion 108 can be closed at its distal end 118, and thus can enclose the thumb of a user wearing the shooting aid 100. The other finger receiving portions 110, 112, 114, and 116 can be open at their distal ends, and thus can expose the tips of the index, middle, ring, and little fingers of a user wearing the shooting aid 100.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the glove portion 102 of the shooting aid 100 can include a first major portion 120 and a second major portion 122. As shown in FIG. 3, when the shooting aid 100 is worn on a user's right hand R, the first major portion 120 overlays at least a portion of or the entirety of the palm of the user's right hand. Though not visible in FIG. 3, when the shooting aid 100 is worn on the user's right hand R, the second major portion 122 overlays the opisthenar area of the user's right hand. As shown in FIG. 4, when the shooting aid 100 is worn on a user's left hand L, the second major portion 122 overlays at least a portion of or the entirety of the palm of the user's left hand. Though not visible in FIG. 4, when the shooting aid 100 is worn on the user's left hand L, the first major portion 120 overlays the opisthenar area of the user's left hand.

The first and second stiffeners 104, 106 have substantially the same shape and are mirror images of one another when mounted on the glove. In alternative embodiments, the stiffeners can have any of various suitable shapes (including any of those described further below) and need not have substantially the same shape. For example, one major surface can have a stiffener 104 such as shown in FIG. 1 and the other major surface can have a stiffener such as shown in FIG. 6B, 7B, 8B, or a stiffener having another differing shape. The first stiffener 104 in FIGS. 1 and 3 has a shape that comprises a stiffener body portion 104 that comprises an intermediate portion 124 that can be centrally located at the base of the thumb and index finger receiving portions 108, 110 of the glove 102. The stiffener 104 also comprises a first extension 126 that extends partially along the thumb receiving portion 108, and a second extension 128 that extends toward the index finger receiving portion 110. Similarly, the second stiffener 106 can have a shape that includes an intermediary or central body portion 130, a first extension 132 which extends partially along the thumb receiving portion 108, and a second extension 134 which extends toward the index finger receiving portion 110. The second extension can also be extended along a portion of the index finger receiving portion 110.

The shape of the stiffeners 104, 106 can also be described as resembling the shape of a goosehead with a neck and a beak, wherein the neck of the goosehead shape extends partially along the thumb receiving portion 108 and the beak of the goosehead shape extends toward the index finger receiving portion 110. The shape of the stiffeners 104, 106 can also be described as generally U-shaped with two legs, wherein the first end of the U-shape, that is, the first leg, extends at least partially along the thumb receiving portion 108, and the second end of the U-shape, that is, the second leg, extends toward the index finger receiving portion 110. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the first stiffener 104 can overlay a portion of the surface of the first major portion 120 of the glove 102 and the second stiffener 106 can overlay a portion of the surface of the second major portion 122 of the glove 102.

The stiffeners 104, 106 thus can be positioned on opposite sides of the glove in order to more effectively confine and restrain the thumb of a user, and to allow the glove to be used on either the left or the right hand of the user with a stiffener being available for positioning at the palm side of the glove regardless of the hand on which the glove is worn. Alternatively, only one of the major portions 120, 122 can be provided with a stiffener, such as for left and right hand shooting gloves, with the appropriate glove being selected that will result in a stiffener at the palm side of the glove depending upon whether the stabilizing or support hand of the player is to be his or her left or right hand.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate that the glove 102 can have a wrist receiving portion 140 which can be configured to receive the wrist of a user. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an adjustable strap 142 can be coupled to and wrap at least partially circumferentially around the wrist receiving portion 140. The strap 142 can include a distal end portion which can be provided with fastening means (not shown) for fastening the distal end portion to the wrist receiving portion 140. Similarly, the wrist receiving portion 140 can be provided with complementary fastening means 144 for allowing the distal end portion of the strap 142 to be fastened thereto. Various fastening means known in the art can be used, for example, snaps, buttons, or a hook and eye type fabric, such as sold under the brand name VELCRO®.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of shooting aid 100, taken along line 5-5, illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown, the glove portion 102 and stiffeners 104, 106, can be made from different materials which can be stitched to one another with stitches 136. The stiffeners can be secured in other manners to the glove, such as using adhesive, heat bonding, positioning in pockets in the glove, or otherwise. The glove portion 102 can be fabricated from a relatively flexible fabric material, such as a polyester fabric or a spandex fabric, for example, a polyester heavy athletic mesh, or a combination fabric made from both polyester and spandex. The stiffeners 104, 106 can be fabricated from any of various suitable, relatively stiff materials, such as various polymeric materials, for example, a polyurethane material. Metal, such as stainless steel sheet stock is another example. As one specific example, the stiffeners can be fabricated from a talc reinforced polypropylene material having a flexural modulus between about 2000 MPa and about 3000 MPa when measured in accordance with ASTM D790. As a more specific example, the stiffeners can have a flexural modulus of about 2415 MPa when measured in accordance with ASTM D790. As shown, the glove 102 can be fabricated from two separate pieces of fabric, which can be stitched together around the periphery of the glove 102 with stitches 138. The stiffeners can be formed by any of various known techniques, for example, by injection molding, or stamping or cutting from sheet stock, such as sheet stock having opposed planar major surfaces, with one of such major planar surfaces becoming an outwardly facing surface of a glove mounted stiffener.

FIGS. 6A-B show an alternative embodiment of a basketball shooting aid 200. As shown, basketball shooting aid 200 can have a glove portion 202, a first stiffener 204, and a second stiffener 206. The glove portion 202 can have a thumb receiving portion 208, an index finger receiving portion 210, a middle finger receiving portion 212, a ring finger receiving portion 214, and a little finger receiving portion 216. As shown, each of the finger receiving portions 208, 210, 212, 214, and 216 can have closed distal ends, and can thus enclose each of the fingers of a user of the shooting aid 200. Alternatively, some or all of the finger receiving portions 208, 210, 212, 214, and 216 can have open distal ends.

In the shooting aid 200, the finger receiving portions can each include respective knuckle portions. Human fingers typically have metacarpophalangeal joints (“MCP”) which join the fingers to the rest of the hand. The four human fingers other than the thumb typically have two interphalangeal joints: one closer to the hand (the proximal interphalangeal joint, or “PIP”), and one farther from the hand (the distal interphalangeal joint, or “DIP”). The human thumb typically has one interphalangeal joint (“IP”). Accordingly, the glove 202 includes five MCP portions 218, 220, 222, 224, and 226, one for each of the five finger receiving portions 208, 210, 212, 214, and 216, respectively. These portions are illustrated in FIG. 6A, but it is understood that they are present, though not specifically identified or numbered in FIG. 6B. Similarly, the glove 202 includes a thumb IP portion 228, as well as four PIP portions 230, 232, 234, and 236, and four DIP portions 238, 240, 242, and 244, one for each of the four finger receiving portions 210, 212, 214, and 216, respectively. These portions are illustrated in FIG. 6A, but it is understood that they are present, though not specifically identified or numbered in FIG. 6B.

The stiffeners 204, 206 of the shooting aid 200 can be joined to the glove portion 202 by means other than stitching, for example, those described above with respect to shooting aid 100, such as, for example, gluing or heat bonding. Thus, no stitches are shown fastening the stiffeners 204, 206 to the glove portion 202. The stiffeners 204, 206 are also shown as having a shape different from the stiffeners 104, 106 of the shooting aid 100. The stiffeners 204, 206 have respective intermediate, central body portions 246, 252, respective first extensions 248, 254, extending partially along the thumb receiving portion 208 of the glove 202, and respective second extensions 250, 256, extending toward the index finger receiving portion 210 of the glove 202.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-B, the first extensions 248, 254 of the stiffeners 204, 206 extend partially along opposing sides (if two stiffeners are used) of the thumb receiving portion 208 to a location distal to the thumb IP portion 228 of the thumb receiving portion 208. The second extensions 250, 256 of the stiffeners 204, 206 extend along opposing sides of glove 202 toward the index finger receiving portion 210 to, in this example, approximately or about at the location of the MCP portion 220 of the index finger receiving portion 210. In alternative embodiments, however, the first and second extensions of the first and second stiffeners can extend farther or not as far along the finger receiving portions as in the illustrated embodiment.

For example, in one alternative embodiment, the first extensions of each of the stiffeners can extend to a location which is proximal to the thumb IP portion 228. In another alternative embodiment, the second extensions of each of the stiffeners can extend to a location which is distal to the MCP portion 220 of the index finger receiving portion 210. Further, in alternative embodiments, the second extensions of one or both of the stiffeners can extend toward or along one of the middle, ring, or little finger receiving portions 212, 214, 216, rather than the index receiving portion 210.

FIGS. 7A-B show another alternative embodiment of a basketball shooting aid 300 with the location of a user's hand shown in dashed lines. The basketball shooting aid 300 can have a glove portion 302, a first stiffener 304, and a second stiffener 306. Again, in alternative embodiments, the shooting aid 300 can have only stiffener 304 or only stiffener 306 instead of two stiffeners. The stiffeners 304 and 306 can be stitched to the glove 302, and can also be fastened to the glove by various alternative means, such as those described above in connection with shooting aid 200. For this reason, no stitching is shown in FIGS. 7A-B. The glove 302 includes a thumb receiving portion 308, a first major portion 310, and a second major portion 312. The glove 302 does not include individual receiving portions for a user's index, middle, ring, and little fingers, the majority of each of which is exposed when a user wears the shooting aid 300.

An end portion of the first major portion 310 is provided with fastening means, and an end portion of the second major portion 312 is provided with complementary fastening means (such as those described above in connection with FIGS. 1-4, with hook and eye fabric being one desirable approach) such that the first major portion 310 and the second major portion 312 can be adjustably coupled to one another in region 314. The first and second stiffeners 304, 306 can each comprise an elongated, slender shape which overlays a portion of the body of the glove 302 and extends at least partially along the thumb receiving portion 308 of the glove 302.

FIGS. 8A-B show another alternative embodiment of a basketball shooting aid 400 which includes a glove portion 402, a first stiffener 404, and a second stiffener 406. As explained above, in alternative embodiments, the shooting aid 400 can have only stiffener 404 or only stiffener 406 instead of two stiffeners. As shown, the stiffeners 404, 406 are stitched to the glove 402 with stitches 408. The stiffeners 404, 406, like the other stiffeners of this disclosure, can be fastened to the glove in alternative ways. The glove 402 includes a thumb receiving portion 410 having an open distal end portion 412, a first major portion 414, and a second major portion 416. The glove 402 does not include individual receiving portions for a user's index, middle, ring, and little fingers, the majority of each of which is exposed when a user wears the shooting aid 400. The first and second stiffeners 404, 406 have respective base portions 418, 420, which overlay a portion of the body of the glove 402, and respective extensions 422, 424 which extend from the base portions 418, 420 and at least partially along the thumb receiving portion 410 of the glove 402. The stiffeners 404, 406 can have a shape that generally resembles that of a hockey stick, with the blade of the hockey stick shape overlaying a portion of the body of the glove 402 and the handle of the hockey stick shape extending up the thumb receiving portion 410. The extensions 422, 424 can be angled from the respective base portions 418, 420, such as at an obtuse angle relative to an upper edge of the body of the base portion.

FIGS. 9A-B show another alternative embodiment of a basketball shooting aid 500 which includes a glove portion 502, a first stiffener 504, and a second stiffener 506. Again, embodiments with only one stiffener can be provided. As shown, the glove portion 502 has a configuration generally resembling that of glove portion 102, and has a first major portion 508, a second major portion 510, a thumb receiving portion 512 and an index finger receiving portion 514. The first and second stiffeners 504, 506 each comprise a generally circular shape and are stitched to the glove portion 502 with stitches 516 or otherwise secured in place. The first stiffener 504 overlays a portion of the first major portion 508, thumb receiving portion 512, and index finger receiving portion 514. Similarly, the second stiffener 506 overlays a portion of the second major portion 510, thumb receiving portion 512, and index finger receiving portion 514. The portions of the stiffeners 504, 506 that overlay the thumb receiving portion 512 and the index finger receiving portion 514 can be thought of as extension portions or extensions similar to the extensions 126, 128, 132 and 134, and the stiffeners 504, 506 can have respective web portions 518, 520 that span the space between the thumb receiving portion 512 and the index finger receiving portion 514 and in effect interconnect these extension portions or extensions.

FIGS. 10A-B show another alternative embodiment of a basketball shooting aid 600 which generally resembles the shooting aid 500 and includes a glove portion 602, and pentagonal first and second stiffeners 604, 606 in place of circular stiffeners 504, 506. Again, embodiments with only one of such stiffeners can be provided. The glove portion 602 can have first and second major portions 608, 610, a thumb receiving portion 612, and an index finger receiving portion 614. The first and second pentagonal stiffeners 604, 606 can be stitched to the glove portion 602 with stiches 616, and can overlay a portion of the body of the glove 602, a portion of the thumb receiving portion 612, and a portion of the index finger receiving portion 614. The portions of the stiffeners 604, 606 which overlay the thumb receiving portion 612 and the index finger receiving portion 614 can be thought of as extension portions or extensions similar to the extensions 126, 128, 132 and 134, and the stiffeners 604, 606 can have respective web portions 618, 620 that span the space between the thumb receiving portion 612 and the index finger receiving portion 614 and in effect interconnect these extension portions or extensions.

FIGS. 11A-B show another alternative embodiment of a basketball shooting aid 700, as worn on a user's right hand R for illustrative purposes. The shooting aid 700 includes a stiffener 704, a first strap 706, and a second strap 708. The stiffener 704 can comprise a generally rectangular shape which is configured to overlay a portion of the palm of the user's hand R and extend along the user's thumb when the user is wearing the shooting aid 700. The first strap 706 can be fastened to the stiffener 704 at region 710, extend around both sides of the user's hand R, and be fastened to itself at region 712, that overlays the palm of the user's hand R. The second strap 708 can be fastened to the stiffener 704 at region 714, extend around both sides of the user's hand R, and be fastened to itself at region 716, that overlays the palm of the user's hand R. The straps 706, 708 can be fastened to one another or to the stiffener 704 by any of various means, including, for example, the adjustable means described above with regard to the adjustable strap 142 of the shooting aid 100, or by stitching.

The shooting aid 700 is illustrated as being worn on the user's right hand R, such that the stiffener 704 overlays a portion of the palm of the user's right hand R, but the illustrated shooting aid 700 can also be worn on the user's left hand such that the stiffener 704 overlays a portion of the palm of the user's left hand. The shooting aid 700 includes only one stiffener 704, configured to overlay a portion of the palm and the thumb of one of a user's hands, thereby restraining one of the user's thumbs. In alternative embodiments, the shooting aid 700 can be provided with additional stiffeners positioned to further restrain the user's thumb, for example, in a location opposite the first stiffener across the user's thumb (i.e., positioned on the back of the user's hand). In one alternative embodiment, the stiffener 704 can have or comprise a tubular portion which is configured to encircle the user's thumb, as described in more detail below with regard to shooting aid 800. Various alternative strap configurations can be used to retain the stiffener 704 in the illustrated position.

FIGS. 12A-B and 13 show another alternative embodiment of a basketball shooting aid 800 as worn on a user's right hand R for illustrative purposes. The shooting aid 800 includes a stiffener 804 that can be exposed, but in the example is covered, such as by a layer of a fabric material 806, and first and second strap portions 808, 810. The stiffener 804 has a tubular end portion 812 which encircles the user's thumb T when the shooting aid 800 is worn, and first and second base portions 816, 818 which extend from the tubular end portion 812 and overlay the palm and the opisthenar area, respectively, of the user's right hand R when the shooting aid 800 is worn. The strap portions can be replaced by a glove, for example of the previously described configurations.

The layer of fabric material 806 that covers the stiffener 804 can extend beyond the base portions 816, 818, and can be stitched or otherwise secured to the first strap portion 808, such as at location 820, a location that is adjacent to the first base portion 816. The layer of fabric material 806 can also be stitched or otherwise secured to the second strap portion 810 at location 822 that is adjacent to the second base portion 818. The first strap portion 808 and the second strap portion 810 can have respective end portions that overlap at location 824 and can be adjustably fastened to one another, such as by approaches or means described above, such as with respect to the adjustable strap 142 of the shooting aid 100. FIG. 13 illustrates the tubular end portion 812, covered in the layer of fabric material 806, as seen along line 13-13 in FIGS. 12A and B. As seen, the tubular end portion 812 defines an opening 826 through which a user's thumb (not shown in FIG. 13) can extend.

The various embodiments of basketball shooting aids described herein can be used to help immobilize, confine, or restrain the thumb of a basketball player's non-shooting hand, while allowing relatively free motion of the other fingers of the player's non-shooting hand, in order to help improve his or her aim in shooting a basketball. That is, the shooting aids described herein can restrain a player's thumb against motion relative to the other fingers and/or the palm of the player's non-shooting hand, thereby preventing inadvertent forces being applied to the basketball as it is shot, ultimately increasing the accuracy of the shot. The other four fingers can be allowed to move freely with respect to one another so they can be used in a natural manner to stabilize the basketball on the player's shooting hand. The shooting aid is used, for example, during training to help a player develop better shooting habits with the non-shooting, stabilizing hand during shooting. These habits can carry over or continue when the shooting aid is removed, such as during a basketball game.

The basketball shooting aids described herein can be provided with a single stiffener coupled to one major portion of a glove portion of the aid. Alternatively, the shooting aids described herein can be provided with plural stiffeners, such as one coupled to each of the major portions of a glove portion of the aid. In shooting aids having a pair of stiffeners, the stiffeners can have substantially the same shape or can have different shapes. The shooting aids described herein can be worn on either of a user's left or right hands, but desirably a shooting aid is used with a stiffener positioned at the palm side of a user's hand that is the non-shooting, stabilizing hand for the shots being practiced. The stiffeners can be coupled to the exterior of the glove portion of the shooting aids described herein, or alternatively, can be coupled to the interior of the glove portion of the shooting aids described herein. In some cases, a glove can be turned inside out and still be wearable. For example, a shooting aid can have a single stiffener coupled to the exterior of a glove portion and configured to partially overlay the palm of a user's right hand when the shooting aid is worn on the user's right hand. When this shooting aid is turned inside out, the stiffener is coupled to the interior of the glove and configured to partially overlay the palm of a user's left hand when the shooting aid is worn on the user's left hand.

The shooting aids described herein can include relatively flexible glove portions, and thus can be configured to be wearable on a wide range of sizes of hands. Shooting aids can also be provided in various sizes so that those basketball players with smaller hands (e.g., children) and those with larger hands (e.g., adults) can be provided with more appropriately sized shooting aids. In some embodiments, a shooting aid can include a glove portion which is specifically designed to be worn on either of a player's right or left hand. The shooting aids described herein can be used for training purposes, for example during basketball practices, and can help a player to repeat physical motions in accordance with proper basketball shooting form, in order to encourage repetition of such motions during competition.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. We therefore claim as our invention all that comes within the scope and spirit of these claims. 

I claim:
 1. A basketball shooting aid comprising: a glove comprising a thumb receiving portion and an index finger receiving portion, the glove also comprising a glove body portion with a palm section that at least partially overlays the palm of a user of the glove when the glove is worn; a stiffener mounted to the glove and comprising a stiffener body portion, the stiffener body portion being positioned to overlay at least a portion of the palm section of the glove, the stiffener comprising a first projecting portion extending outwardly from the stiffener body portion and extending along at least a portion of the thumb receiving portion of the glove and a second projecting portion extending outwardly from the stiffener body portion and extending toward the index finger receiving portion of the glove.
 2. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 1 wherein the thumb receiving portion and the index finger receiving portion of the glove each comprise a respective sleeve with at least the sleeve of the index finger receiving portion being open so as to not cover a distal portion of an index finger of a user wearing the glove.
 3. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 2 wherein the sleeve of the thumb receiving portion comprises a distal end portion that is open to expose a thumb of a user wearing the glove.
 4. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 1 wherein the glove comprises four finger receiving sleeves with respective distal ends that are open, with one of said finger receiving sleeves comprising the index finger receiving portion of the glove.
 5. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 1 wherein the stiffener comprises a polymeric material and the glove comprises a fabric material.
 6. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 5 wherein the stiffener comprises a polymeric material that has a stiffness between about 2,000 MPa and about 3,000 MPa when tested in accordance with ASTM D790.
 7. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 1 wherein the index finger receiving portion of the glove comprises a proximal interphalangeal joint portion and the second projecting portion of the stiffener extends along the index finger receiving portion of the glove to a location distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint portion of the index finger receiving portion.
 8. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 7 wherein the thumb receiving portion of the glove comprises a thumb interphalangeal joint portion and the first projecting portion of the stiffener extends along the thumb receiving portion of the glove to a location distal to the thumb interphalangeal joint portion of the thumb receiving portion.
 9. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 8 wherein the thumb and index finger receiving portions of the glove each comprise a respective sleeve, the sleeve of the thumb receiving portion extending outwardly from the body portion of the glove to a location beyond the interphalangeal joint of a thumb of a user and the sleeve of the index finger receiving portion extending outwardly from the body portion of the glove to a location beyond the proximal interphalangeal joint of an index finger of a user.
 10. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 1 wherein the stiffener is stitched to the glove.
 11. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 1 wherein the stiffener is generally U-shaped with first and second legs and a central body portion from which the first and second legs project, the first leg comprising the first projecting portion and the second leg comprising the second projecting portion, and wherein the central body portion of the stiffener overlays the palm section of the glove.
 12. A basketball shooting aid comprising: a glove comprising a thumb receiving portion, the glove comprising a glove body sized to wrap around both sides of the hand of a user; and a stiffener mounted to the glove, the stiffener comprising a body portion positioned to overlay at least a portion of the glove body, the stiffener comprising a first projection extending at least partially along the thumb receiving portion.
 13. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 12 wherein: the glove further comprises an index finger receiving portion; and the stiffener further comprises a second projection extending toward the index finger receiving portion of the glove.
 14. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 12 comprising first and second of said stiffeners positioned on opposite sides of the glove body from one another.
 15. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 12 wherein the thumb receiving portion comprises a sleeve having a distal end portion that is open to expose a thumb of a user wearing the glove.
 16. A basketball shooting aid comprising: a glove comprising a thumb receiving portion, an index finger receiving portion, a middle finger receiving portion, a ring finger receiving portion, a little finger receiving portion, and a body portion which interconnects the thumb receiving portion, the index finger receiving portion, the middle finger receiving portion, the ring finger receiving portion, and the little finger receiving portion, wherein the body portion includes a wrist receiving opening, a palm section that overlays the palm of a user's hand when the glove is worn, and a back section that overlays the back of a user's hand when the glove is worn; a first stiffener mounted to the palm section of the glove, the first stiffener comprising a body portion which overlays a portion of the palm section of the glove, a first extending portion extending along at least a portion of the thumb receiving portion of the glove, and a second extending portion extending toward the index finger receiving portion of the glove; a second stiffener mounted to the back section of the glove, the second stiffener comprising a body portion which overlays a portion of the back section of the glove, a first extending portion extending along at least a portion of the thumb receiving portion of the glove, and a second extending portion extending toward the index finger receiving portion of the glove; and an adjustable strap mounted to the body portion of the glove, wherein the adjustable strap can be adjusted to modify a size of the wrist receiving opening of the body portion of the glove.
 17. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 16 wherein the index finger receiving portion, the middle finger receiving portion, the ring finger receiving portion, and the little finger receiving portion of the glove each comprise a respective sleeve which is open at its distal end so as to not cover a distal portion of a finger of a user wearing the glove.
 18. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 17 wherein the thumb receiving portion of the glove comprises a sleeve which is closed at its distal end so as to enclose a distal portion of a thumb of a user wearing the glove.
 19. A basketball shooting aid comprising: a glove having a thumb receiving portion and an index finger receiving portion, the glove comprising a glove body interconnecting the thumb receiving portion and index finger receiving portion, wherein the glove body is sized to wrap around both sides of the hand of a user; and a stiffener mounted to the glove, wherein the stiffener comprises a body portion which extends at least partially over the glove body, extends at least partially over the thumb receiving portion, and extends at least partially over a space between the thumb receiving portion and the index finger receiving portion.
 20. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 19 comprising first and second of said stiffeners positioned on opposite sides of the glove body from one another.
 21. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 19 wherein the body portion of the stiffener has a shape which is generally circular.
 22. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 19 wherein the body portion of the stiffener has a shape which is generally pentagonal.
 23. A basketball shooting aid comprising: a stiffener having a thumb portion and a base portion coupled to and extending away from the thumb portion, wherein the base portion is configured to overlay at least a portion of the body of the hand of a user and the thumb portion is configured to extend at least partially along the thumb of a user; and a strap coupled to the base portion, wherein the strap is sized to wrap around the body of the hand of the user to secure the stiffener to the hand of the user.
 24. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 23 wherein the thumb portion is tubular and has a central opening configured to receive the thumb of the user.
 25. A basketball shooting aid according to claim 24, wherein: the stiffener comprises first and second of said base portions coupled to and extending away from the tubular thumb portion, wherein the first and second base portions are configured to overlay opposite sides of the body of the hand of the user; the strap comprises a first end portion and a second end portion; the first end portion of the strap is coupled to the first base portion of the stiffener; and the second end portion of the strap is coupled to the second base portion of the stiffener. 